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Building Strong Foundations for All Children

PEDALS (Positive Emotional Development and Learning Skills) partners with early childhood educators and organizations to build critical social-emotional skills and create learning environments where both children and adults can thrive.

Honoring 14 years of impact in Western New York.

To our partners, supporters, and educators across the region: thank you. The methodology you helped refine lives on through ongoing PEDALS programming in Central New York, and through our Legacy Hub, a permanent resource supporting the continuation of social-emotional learning.

Explore the Legacy Hub

Partner with PEDALS.

At PEDALS, we help lay the groundwork for success in kindergarten—and beyond—by fostering emotional well-being and celebrating strengths. Our customized approach emphasizes inclusive practices that benefit diverse learners in any setting.

Our Impact.

Since 2012, PEDALS has:
  • Supported over 40,000 children in 820 classrooms.
  • Trained more than 1,700 early childhood educators.
  • Improved outcomes with tools like the Simple Interactions framework from the Fred Rogers Institute, strengthening bonds between children and caring adults.

Why social-emotional learning matters.

Social-emotional skills—like managing emotions, building relationships, and making responsible choices—are the foundation for learning and lifelong success. These are skills that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened.

At PEDALS, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to develop these skills in a safe, inclusive environment where they feel understood and valued.

We also understand that educators thrive when they have the tools and support to nurture their own well-being, build meaningful connections, and create a positive, empowering learning environment.

Relationship Based. Research Informed.

Our strength-based approach to SEL is grounded in empathy and curiosity, creating safe, inclusive spaces where all children—regardless of background or ability—feel they belong. By empowering teachers and honoring neurodiversity and individual strengths, we ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.

The PEDAL model prioritizes:
  • SEL Curriculum that aligns with how young children grow and learn.
  • Customized coaching to enhance teaching methods, provide tailored support, and nurture well-being.
  • Flexible, inclusive implementation that adapts to the needs of diverse learners.

What we offer

In-classroom coaching.

PEDALS provides individualized and intentional in-classroom coaching to early childhood educators and agencies teaching social-emotional learning curriculum.

SEL curriculum implementation.

PEDALS works with any high-quality SEL curriculum or framework to foster students' emotional intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving.

Professional development.

Everyday Interactions Matter provides early learning professionals with the tools and resources they need to implement the EIM model in their classrooms.

Adminstration track.

Our Admin program helps school leaders look beyond the classroom mechanics of SEL and understand how to recognize and support it in action.

Who we are.

Since 2012, PEDALS has partnered with early childhood teachers and agencies to build children’s social-emotional skills and increase kindergarten readiness.

About Us